432 
Fishes. 
THE HOKNED SILURE, 
(Silurus, or Ageneiosus militarist 
Grows to a large size, weighing sometimes three hundred 
pounds, and measuring eight to ten feet in length, and 
two in breadth. It has a broad, flat, thin head ; and the 
horns, which are on each side of the upper lip, are armed 
with short crooked spines, like teeth. A remarkable pe- 
culiarity in this fish is the dorsal fin, which is close to 
the head, and is long, stiff, dentated like the horns, and 
is, no doubt, an instrument of defence. In colour it re- 
sembles the eel, and has no scales ; only one small fin on 
the back, and a forked tail ; its flesh is esteemed next to 
that of the eel, and has a similar flavour. This fish is a 
great depredator, and makes considerable havoc among 
the smaller inhabitants of the rivers and lakes which it in- 
habits. It is a native of the fresh waters of Asia. The 
Danube, and several other rivers of Germany, and the 
lakes of Switzerland and Bavaria contain numerous 
specimens of Silurus. 
